Curling stone



P. M LEOD CURLING STONE Aug. 2, 1927. I

Filed Nov. 23, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'm z s/vrae m Aug. 2, 1927.

P. Memos CURLING srom: Filed Nov. 23. 1926 2 sheets-shut 2 Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED STATES CURLING STONE.

Application filed November 23, 1926, Serial No. 150,288, and in Great Britain November 27, 1925.

v This invention relates to curling stones,

its object being to provide means whereby said'stones can be used for playing on surfaces other than ice.

To the attainment of this object, according to the present invention, the bearing surface ofthe stone is formed by one or more pieces of wax or like substances (hereafter referred to for convenience as wax The curling stones are preferably used on a glass or other rink whose surface offers little resistance to the stone, said surface being preferably kept moist by water or other suit-able liquid.

The wax may be carried in the stone itselfor in a member adapted to be secured to the stone or in both of these and means maybe provided whereby the wax may be fed forward in order to replace that'which is worn away while the stone is being used. The Wax may, for example, be arranged in spaced apertures in a member adapted to be detachably secured tothe', stone by means of the existing bolt, which is also used for securing the handle to the stone, or the wax may be arranged in arcuate apertures in said member, or otherwise, as desired. lvleansmay also be provided on the stone whereby" the surface of the glass orother rink is kept continually moistened, and said means may consist of a fringe or ring of fabric attached to the stone and adapted, in the flight of the stone over the rink, to contact with the surface of the latter and to impart moisture, carried by said fabric, thereto.

It will be understood that where the wax is carried in a member adapted to be secured to the stone that this member may either be permanently fixed to and sold with the stone or it may be sold sepa 'ately for application to existing stones. e.

Two constructions of curling stones are illustrated by wayof example upon the acv companying drawings wherein i Fig. .1 is a sectional elevation of one construction. a

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section on line III-J11 in Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, of the sec- "ond construction.

Fig.55 is an inverted plan thereof.

In one constructional form of my invention a wooden plate 1 issecuredtothe un- Yderside-of the curling stone Qby means of the existing bolt marked 3 of the curling stone The bolt 3 is that whichnormally serves to secure the handle 4 to the curling stone. Holes '5 are drilled in the wooden plate and in these holes are located bushes 6. The wax preferably in the form of a cylindrical block is inserted into each of the holes formed in the wooden plate. On top of the wax'is mounted astud Swhich is slidable in the bush 7 and has a projection 9 with an inclined upper surface 9. This inclined surface of the projection cooperates with inclines 10 on the ring 11'r0- tatably mounted in the groove 12' in the underside of the. wooden plate. -A metal disc 13 is mounted on theinner side of the wooden plate between the wooden plate and the stone and the ring is'provided with a laterally extending operating handle 16 either formed integral with the ring or formed separately thereof and secured to the ring. This handle is provided with a projection 14 adapted to engage in the notches 15 of a rack-like periphery formed on the plate 18 at one side thereof and the handle-is made of some resilient'material and so arranged as normally to re-tain the projection lt in' engagement with the notches 15. v v v The ring and the studs are so arranged that by retracting the handle from engagement with the notches 15'a'nd rotating the ring the studs are moved downwardly so asto feed the-wax. After the wax has'been fed so as to project to the desired. extent below the wooden'plate the handle is released when it moves into engagement with one of the notches 15' and thereby retains the parts in their adjusted positions. Although in the construction illustrated T have shown-projections and inclined surfaces both on the studs and on'the ring it will be understood that such projections may be provided on the ring or on the studs only if the parts are so arranged that'on rotation of the ring the desired movement of the studs will be obtained. Further it will be understood that in place of the'ring a plate may beempl ye L I I I Tn the construction shown n Fig. 4- a I eurlin'gbtone 20 is made as a hollow member preferably of cast 11011,

This hollow member has an opening 21 at its upper end 1 across which projects a handle 22; 'In this case as in the previous construction-a "wooden plate 23 is; employed secured? and moreover these tubular members are each provided with a plunger 26 mounted upon a common yoke 27 and operated by the wing nut 28 and screw 29 so as to feed the wa i As willbe seen from the drawing the wax caused to slightly project below the under surface of the wooden plate so as to form a bearing surface, for the stone. After the curling stone has been in use for some time however the ends of the pieces of wax become worn and the wax then requires to be fed as aforesaid. V 7

It will be understood that the wooden members can be dispensed with and the wax be carried directly by the stone itself.

The curling stone is usedon a glass rink,

whose surface is kept continually moistened by means of a fabric fringe or ring 30 which is secured to the underside of the curling stone or to, one plate 1 or 23 and is dipped into water or other suitable liquid. The fringe is of such a length that when the curling stone is in flight the end of said fringe contacts with the surface of the rink so as to keep it moist. The brushes which are used, in the game are also kept wet so as to assist in moistening the surface of the rink.

The combination .of the wax bearing surface onthe curling stone with the wetted surface of the glass rink causes the curling stone to move quickly and with little friction thereover, so that the conditions of the game are almost the same as if the curling stOne was. being used on an ice rink.

The invention may be appliedto any eX- isting form of curling stone, and the wax may be replaced by any suitable wax-like substance. In some cases when my improved curling stones are used on a glass rink I may provide the latter with a portion or boundary of rustless steel or other suitable material, at those places where the curling stonesare flung by the players.

I; claim 1.;A. curling stone having oneor more pieces of wax securedon its lower surface adapted to form a bearing for the stone. i 2, A curling stone having pieces of-wax carried in the stone adapted to project be low thelower surface of. the stoneto form a; bearing therefor andmeans for feeding the wax as it is worn away.

3. A curling stone havinga membersecured to the underside thereof having recesses therein, pieces of wax in saidrecesscs arranged to project below the base of said member to act as a bearing for the stone.

4:. A curling stone having one or more pieces of wax secured on its lower surface adapted to form a bearing for the stone and means on said stone whereby the playing surface is moistened.

and means on said stone wherebythe playing surface is moistened.

'7. A curling stone having one or more A pieces of wax secured on its" lower surface adapted. to form a bearing for the stone anda fringe of fabric attached to said stone adapted to contact with the playing surface and impart moisture carried by'the fabric thereto.

8..A curling stone having .piecesof wax carried in the stone adapted to project below the lower surface of the stone to form a bearing therefor andv means for feeding the wax as. it is worn away and a fringe fabric attached to said contact with the playing surface and impart moisture carried by the fabricthereto.

9. A'curling. stone having a member sestone f adapted to i cured to the underside. thereofhaving. re

cesses therein, pieces ofwax. in said recesses arranged to project below the base of the member to. act as a bearing for the stone and a fringe of fabric attached to said stone adapted to contact withthe playing surface and impart moisture carried by the fabric thereto. a p j 10. A curling stone having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said carrying means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a bearing, for the stone, means for supporting theinner end of said pieces of wax, a rotatable member, inclined surfaces on said member adapted on rotation of said. member to. force said supperting means outwardly so as to feed said pieces of wax and means for member.v V a j j a 11; A curling stone. having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said; carryrotating. said ing means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a. bearing for the stone, means for'supportingthe; inner. end of said pieces of wax, a. rotatable member, inclined rotation of said membersto force. said sup porting means outwardly so as to feed' said surfaces on said memberadapted on J pieces of wax, means for rotating said member, and means on said stone whereby the playing surface is moistened.

12. A curling stone having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said carrying means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a bearing for the stone, means for supporting the inner end of said pieces of wax, a rotatable member, inclined surfaces on said member adapted on rotationof said member to force said supporting means outwardly so as to feed said pieces of wax, means for rotating said member, and a fringe of fabric attached to said stone adapted to contact with the playing surface and impart moisture carried by the fabric thereto.

13. A curling stone having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said carrying means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a bearing for the stone, means for supporting the inner end of said pieces of wax, a rotatable member, inclined surfaces on said member adapted on rotation of said member to force said supporting means outwardly so as to feed said pieces of wax, a laterally extending operating handle on said member and a rack cooperating with said handle to retain it in its adjusted position.

14. A curling stone having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said carrying means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a bearing for the stone,

means for supporting the inner end of said pieces of wax, a rotatable member, inclined surfaces on said member adapted on rotation of said member to force sa1d supporting means outwardly so as to feed said pieces of wax, a laterally extending operating handle on said member, a rack co-operating with said handle to retain it in its adjusted position, and means on said stone whereby the playing surface is moistened.

15. A curling stone having means for carrying wax, pieces of wax in said carrying means adapted to project below the lower surface and form a bearing for the inclined surfaces on said member adapted on rotation of said member to force saidsupporting means outwardly so as to feed said pieces of wax, a laterally extending operating handle on said member, a rack co-operating with said handle to retain it in its adstone, means for supporting the inner end a of said pieces of wax, a rotatable member, I

justed position, and a fringe of fabric attached to said stone adapted to contact with the playing surface and impart moisture carried by the fabric thereto.

16. A curling stone comprising a hollow body having holes in the underside there.- of, pieces of wax in said holes andmeans in said body for feeding said pieces.

17. A curling stone comprising a hollow body having holes in the underside thereof, pieces of wax in said holes, plungers in the inner ends of said holes adapted to support and feed said pieces and means for moving said plungers.

18. A curling stone comprising a hollow body having holes in the underside thereof, pieces of wax in said holes, plungers in the inner ends of said holes adapted to support and feed said pieces, a yoke connecting said plungers and a screw device for moving said yoke and plungers.

19. A curling stone comprising a body part, a member on the underside of said body part having holes therein, means for securing said member to said body part, pieces of wax in said holes, studs in the inner ends of said holes, a plate rotatably mounted between said member and said body part, means on said plate adapted to engage with and feed said studs on rotation of said plate, means for operating said .plate and means for retaining said plate in its adjusted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PETER MoLEOD. 

